MANUEL ALMUNIA has revealed he is looking into acquiring a British passport which would make him eligible to play for England.

Spanish-born Almunia has discussed the possibility of representing his adoptive playing country in the past, but has now confirmed he is actively trying to make it happen.

Goalkeeper Almunia, who joined Arsenal from Celta Vigo in July 2004, would, under residency laws, be eligible to apply to become a naturalised British citizen from next year. That would give him the opportunity to stake a controversial claim for a World Cup slot for England.

Almunia, 31, said: “People are asking this question now because I have been in England for five years.

“I am taking in the information of what I need to do to get a passport. I think, for January next year, I can have the permission.

“Then, after that, if I get the call-up from England, I will think about this.” Almunia, who arrived as understudy to Jens Lehmann, has made himself first choice at Arsenal and loves playing in this country.

He may feel he has a better opportunity of international football with England as he has never been called up by Spain, who are currently blessed with Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas and Liverpool’s Pepe Reina as their main two keepers.

But any English selection of Almunia would be a slap in the face for the new generation of homegrown goalkeepers, such as Ben Foster of Manchester United, West Ham’s Robert Green and Wigan’s Chris Kirkland.

England’s most capped player, former Leicester, Stoke and Nottingham Forest keeper Peter Shilton, says he would never like to see a foreign-born player don the England shirt.

Shilton, who won 125 caps, said: “I just think when you’re brought up on the tradition of us having great goalkeepers over the years, I feel we should still have enough to be able to find our own man.”